Continuous series of envelopes



Sept. 28, 1965 A. H. JOHNSON n CONTINUOUS SERIES 0F ENVELOPES Filed June1e, 1964 3,208,663 CONTINUOUS SERIES F ENVELOPES Albert H. Johnson, 4James St., Enfield, Conn. Filed June 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,602 6Claims. (Cl. 229-469) This invention, relates to a series of envelopesarranged in a continuous series for feeding successivelyto an addressingmachine, or typewrite or'the like. l

The invention is in certain respects an improvementl on the subjectmatter of applicants copending application Serial No. 328,364, tiledDecember 5, 1963.

Where manifolded envelopes are fed between a platen and a printingmechanism, particularly in high speed addressing machines, for example,the leading edge of individual envelopes may be caught by guide fingersor other projecting elements which are located close to the path of theenvelope. When this occurs the envelope or the carrying strip may-betorn or the machine may be jammed. The principal feature of thisinvention is an arrangement of the manifolded envelope to avoid thisobjection. An other featureis an arrangement by which to shield theleading edge of the envelope so that it will be guided past any of theseprojecting devices.

More specifically one feature of the invention is the formation ofspaced aps in the carrying strip in a position to overlie the leadingedges of successive envelopes. Another feature is the use of these flapsin locating the envelopes on the backing strip during the assemblage ofenvelopes and tapes on the backing strip.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specificationand claims, and from the Iaccompanying drawings which illustrate anembodiment of the invention.

FIG; l is a plan view showing a continuous series of standard envelopes.

Y FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of a modification.

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of another modification.

Referring rst to FIGS. l and 2, each envelope 2V is` Y `standardenvelope having a front panel 4 and a back panel consisting of sideflaps 6 and 8, Ya bottom flap 10 and a sealing ap 12. The latter tiap 12is folded against but not adhered to the remainder of rthe back panel.The envelope, as described, is a standard form of mailing envelope whichis produced in very large quantities and 'is commonly known in the tradeas one of the standard forms.

The series of envelopes 2 are arranged in spaced relation in acontinuous series on a continuous'backing strip 14 and aremaintained inspaced relation to each other on the backing strip by spaced tapes 16and 18 which overlie the opposite ends of the envelope and form pockets20 to receive the ends of the envelopel when the tapes are pressed intocontact with'the backing strip. yThe opposite edges of the backing stripproject beyond the tapes and have a row of perforations 22 for use infeedingv the assemblage to a machine. The tapes 16 and 18 have adhesive24 on the underside thereof of the conventional latex type or heatsealing type and the backing strip has cooperating bands of adhesive 26.In this way the adhesive'on the tapes will adhere to the adhesive on thebacking strip where it is not covered bythe ends of the envelopes,

Y thereby forming the pockets 20 for the ends of the envelopes butwithout adhering directly to the envelopes. 'I'he envelopes are spacedapart by spacers 28 between theends of adjacent envelopes where thetapes and the backing strip are held together. Y l l j -To concealtheleading edge of each of the envelopes,

' and thus protect it `from contact with adjacent parts of 3,208,663Patented Sept. 28, 1965 y ce i tapes and of a substantial length tooverlie a major portion of the envelope. This ap 30 serves to concealthe leading edge 32 of the envelope and provide a smooth surface suchthat projecting elements on the machine closely adjacent to the frontsurface of the backing strip` will not be caught on the leading edge ofthe envelope as the assemblage is fed in the directionV of the arrow 33v through the machine.

The tlap is formed by a U-shaped slit cut in the backing strip and theends 34 of the slit are engaged by the leading edge of the envelope, asshown. This arrangement serves to locate each of thev envelopes in theprecise position lengthwise of the backing strip and also accuratelywith the long edges of the envelope at right angles to the edges of thestrip since the envelopes are positioned bef neath these flaps duringassemblage of the envelopes on the backing strip and beneath the tapes.

The ap'30 is shown as being slightly wider than the spacing of the inneredges of the tapes so that the opposite edges of the ap are engaged bythe tapes, as shown. This arrangement provides a secure attachment ofthe iap and makes sure that the flap will be in a position to receivewhatever information is applied to the envelope by the machine. In thisway the flap may also serve as a per-v manent record of whateverinformation was applied to the envelope. As will be apparent, the backof the flap may carry transfer material, such as carbon paper or the4the leading edge of the envelope. Obviously, this ap is not intended toreceive any of the information being printed; however, it does serve toprotectthe leading edge of the envelope, as above described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the flap 40 is longer and terminates just -under theinner edges of the tapes 16" and 18." and is thus held in position tosome extent by these tapes. The ends 42 of the lslit that formed theflap serve as Ibefore to locate the envelopes both vendwise of thebacking j strip 14" and in proper oriented position thereon beforev thetapes 16" and 18" are applied. The tlap 40 also serves the function ofcovering the leading edge of the envelope so that 'any projectingelements forming part of the machine cannot catch the leading edge ofthe envelope.

It will be understood that this type of manifold envelope is arranged tofeed over a platen with the printing mechanism on the front side of thebacking mechanism. Thus the conceahnent of the leading edge of theenvelope from the front side of the assemblage serves the desiredpurpose. In the usual machine the platen side of the device does nothave projecting elements that would readily catch on-the envelope.

The effect of the flap 30, 36 or 40 is to hold the leading edge of theenvelope smoothly against the backing strip in the area of the machinewhere the envelope might be caught. Thus, the overlying ap can be assmall as desired provided it is located in such a way as to keep theenvelope flat against or substantially in the plane of the backingstrip. It is to be understood that the invention is not limitedV to thespecific embodiment herein illustrated and described, but may be used inother ways without` depart- Y urefrom its spirit as defined by thefollowing claims.

l claim:

1. A series of envelopes arranged in spaced relation to oney another forfeeding continuously and successively to a machine, a backing strip onwhich the envelopes are positioned, tapes arranged along opposite edges0f the series `of envelopes to hold them in position on the strip, andmeans on the backing strip to hold the leading edge of the envelopeagainst the backing strip said means including a ap cut from the portionof the backing strip y underlying the envelope, said flap overlyingsubstantially the entire length of the leading edge of the envelopebetween the tapes.

2. A series of'envelopes as in claim 1 in which the aps extends betweenthe opposite tape and the ends of the tlap are engaged by the tapes tohold the ap against the envelope. l

3. A device for supporting al series of standard envelopes in spacedrelation to one another for continuously and successively feeding theenvelopes to an addressing machine or the like, including a backingstrip on which the envelopes are positioned in spaced relation, theforward edge of the envelope in the direction of movement ofthe backingstrip into the machine being the leading edge, tapes extendinglengthwise of the strip in spaced relation to one another and overlyingthe opposite ends of the envelopes to hold the envelopes in position onthe strip, and a plurality of flaps integral with the backing strip andoverlaying substantially the entire length of the leading edges of thespaced envelopes being formed by slits cut in the backing strip in thearea underneath the envelope, the ends of each slit engaging the leadingedge of the associated envelope adjacent opposite ends and locating itlengthwise on the backing strip.

4. A device as in claim 3 in which the slit is U-shaped and the ends ofthe slit extend in the direction of feeding motion of the strip into themachine.

5. A device as in claim 3 in which the backing strip and tapes cooperateto form pockets to receive the ends of the envelope and the ends of theilap are engaged by the tapes.

6. A device as in claim 3 in which the ap extends across the envelope.between the tapes, and the ends ot the flaps are positioned beneath andretained by the tapes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,013,844 9/35Sherman 229-69 2,723,077 11/55 Whitman 229-69 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,2791908 Greatritain-` JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

3. A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A SERIES OF STANDARD ENVELOPES IN SPACEDRELATION TO ONE ANOTHER FOR CONTINUOUSLY AND SUCCESSIVELY FEEDING THEENVELOPES TO AN ADDRESSING MACHINE OR THE LIKE, INCLUDING A BACKINGSTRIP ON WHICH THE ENVELOPES ARE POSITIONED IN SPACED RELATION, THEFORWARD EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE BACKINGSTRIP INTO THE MACHINE BEING THE LEADING EDGE, TAPES EXTENDINGLENGTHWISE OF THE STRIP IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER AND OVERLYINGTHE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE ENVELOPES TO HOLD THE ENVELOPES IN POSITION ONTHE STRIP, AND A PLURALITY OF FLAPS INTEGRAL WITH THE BACKING STRIPS ANDOVERLAYING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE LEADING EDGES OF THESPACED ENVELOPES BEING FORMED BY SLITS CUT IN THE BACKING STRIP IN THEAREA UNDERNEATH THE ENVELOPE, THE ENDS OF EACH SLIT ENGAGING THE LEADINGEDGE OF THE ASSOCIATED ENVELOPE ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS AND LOCATING ITLENGHTWISE ON THE BACKING STRIP.